Boeing 747-8 vs 737-800

By: Rocco

Comparing the Boeing 747-8 vs the Boeing 737-800? Start with the quick spec breakdown below, then dive into the story for the bigger picture.

Boeing 747-8
Jumbo Passenger Jets
Boeing 747-8
ICAO: B748 Status: Active Visit aircraft page
Boeing 737-800
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Boeing 737-800
ICAO: B738 Status: Active Visit aircraft page

General

Units
Boeing 747-8
Manufacturer
Boeing
ICAO code
B748
Produced
2008–Present
Price
$418.4 million (2019)
Engine
4 × General Electric GEnx 2B67
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
4 × 66,500 lbf · 296 kN +387% (total)
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Avionics
Wing tips
Raked wingtips
Seats
467 economy · 600 business · 467 first
Boeing 737-800
Manufacturer
Boeing
ICAO code
B738
Produced
1998–Present
Price
$89.2 million
Engine
2 × Snecma / CFM56-7B27
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
2 × 27,300 lbf · 121 kN -79% (total)
Avionics
Rockwell Collins avionics
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
189 economy · 175 business · 162 first

Dimensions

Boeing 747-8
Cabin width
20 ft 0 in 6.10 m 20 ft 0 in 6.10 m +72%
Cabin height
7 ft 10 in 2.39 m 7 ft 10 in 2.39 m +9%
Cabin length
207 ft 6 in 63.25 m 207 ft 6 in 63.25 m +111%
Exterior length
250 ft 2 in 76.25 m 250 ft 2 in 76.25 m +93%
Tail height
64 ft 0 in 19.51 m 64 ft 0 in 19.51 m
Fuselage diameter
21 ft 4 in 6.49 m 21 ft 4 in 6.49 m +73%
Wing span
224 ft 5 in 68.40 m 224 ft 5 in 68.40 m +99%
Baggage volume
529 ft 10 in 161.50 m 529 ft 10 in 161.50 m +258%
Boeing 737-800
Cabin width
11 ft 7 in 3.54 m 11 ft 7 in 3.54 m -42%
Cabin height
7 ft 3 in 2.20 m 7 ft 3 in 2.20 m -8%
Cabin length
98 ft 4 in 29.97 m 98 ft 4 in 29.97 m -53%
Exterior length
129 ft 7 in 39.50 m 129 ft 7 in 39.50 m -48%
Tail height
Fuselage diameter
12 ft 4 in 3.76 m 12 ft 4 in 3.76 m -42%
Wing span
112 ft 7 in 34.31 m 112 ft 7 in 34.31 m -50%
Baggage volume
148 ft 0 in 45.10 m 148 ft 0 in 45.10 m -72%

Weights

Boeing 747-8
Max payload
167,500 lb 76,000 kg 167,500 lb 76,000 kg +257%
Fuel capacity
63,034 gal 238,610 L 63,034 gal 238,610 L +817%
Max takeoff weight
987,000 lb 447,500 kg 987,000 lb 447,500 kg +17%
Max landing weight
688,000 lb 312,000 kg 688,000 lb 312,000 kg
Boeing 737-800
Max payload
47,000 lb 21,300 kg 47,000 lb 21,300 kg -72%
Fuel capacity
6,875 gal 26,025 L 6,875 gal 26,025 L -89%
Max takeoff weight
847,000 lb 384,000 kg 847,000 lb 384,000 kg -14%
Max landing weight

Performance

Boeing 747-8
Max cruise speed
533 kt · 613 mph 987 km/h 533 kt 613 mph 987 km/h +13%
Approach speed
145 kt · 167 mph 269 km/h 145 kt 167 mph 269 km/h
Rate of climb
2,500 ft/min 13 m/s 2,500 ft/min 13 m/s
Range
8,000 nm · 9,210 mi 14,820 km 8,000 nm 9,210 mi 14,820 km +161%
Service ceiling
43,000 ft 13,100 m 43,000 ft 13,100 m +5%
Takeoff distance
10,500 ft 3,190 m 10,500 ft 3,190 m +38%
Landing distance
8,800 ft 2,680 m 8,800 ft 2,680 m +95%
Boeing 737-800
Max cruise speed
473 kt · 544 mph 876 km/h 473 kt 544 mph 876 km/h -11%
Approach speed
Rate of climb
0 ft/min 0 m/s 0 ft/min 0 m/s -100%
Range
3,060 nm · 3,520 mi 5,670 km 3,060 nm 3,520 mi 5,670 km -62%
Service ceiling
41,000 ft 12,500 m 41,000 ft 12,500 m -5%
Takeoff distance
7,600 ft 2,320 m 7,600 ft 2,320 m -27%
Landing distance
4,500 ft 1,370 m 4,500 ft 1,370 m -49%

It’s a battle as old as time or at least as old as commercial aviation. The mighty 747 vs 737. Which is better? This blog post will look at the two aircraft and see which one comes out on top.

About the Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range airliner with a widebody fuselage. It was first flown commercially on 9 Feb 1969 and is still in production today. And it can carry up to 660 passengers and has a range of nearly 7,500 miles.

Why was it developed and built?

The Boeing 747 is a widebody jet airliner with four engines, typically used for long-haul flights. It was first developed in the 1960s by American manufacturer Boeing in response to the growing demand for air travel.

What purpose does it serve?

The Boeing 747 is a large commercial airliner that can carry up to 660 passengers. It is mainly used for long-distance flights and operates between cities separated by thousands of miles.

Its four powerful engines give it the range to cover these distances in a single flight, making it highly cost-effective for airlines. In addition, its large fuselage gives it the capacity to carry more passengers than any commercial airliner.

About the Boeing 737

The Boeing 737 is a narrowbody airliner first flown commercially in 1968. It is still in production today and is one of Boeing’s best-selling aircraft. And it can carry up to 210 passengers and has a range of just over 3,800 miles.

Why was it developed and built?

The Boeing 737 is a single-aisle jet airliner with two engines, typically used for short-haul flights. Think of it as a smaller version of the 747. Designed to meet the growing demand for air travel, it quickly became one of the most popular airliners in the world.

What purpose does it serve?

Remember, the Boeing 737 is designed for short-haul flights. As such, it would be used to connect relatively close cities. Its two powerful engines give it the range to reach these destinations in a single flight, making it an efficient and cost-effective option for airlines.

How are the Boeing 747 and Boeing 737 different?

Let’s take a closer look at these two widely popular planes.

Size

The Boeing 747 is a jumbo jet, while the Boeing 737 is a narrowbody plane. This means that the Boeing 747 is significantly larger than the Boeing 737; it can carry up to 66% more passengers.

The Boeing 747 also has a wider fuselage, allowing more cargo space. As a result, it is better suited for long-haul flights, while the Boeing 737 is better suited for short to medium-haul flights.

Speed

The Boeing 747 has a cruising speed of 933 km/h, while the Boeing 737 has a cruising speed of 838 km/h. While this may not seem like a significant difference, it is; when you’re talking about an aircraft that weighs hundreds of thousands of pounds, even a small increase in speed can make a big difference.

Fuel Efficiency

Another critical difference between these two aircraft is fuel efficiency. The Boeing 747 burns approximately 10 gallons of fuel per mile, while the Boeing 737 burns approximately 5 gallons per mile. This makes the Boeing 737 much more fuel efficient than the Boeing 747, which is essential given the high cost of jet fuel.

Range

One significant difference between them is the range. The Boeing 747 range is around 10,800 – 14,320 km, while the Boeing 737 range is 2850 – 7130 km. This is because the Boeing 747 was designed for long-haul flights, while the Boeing 737 was designed for shorter flights between cities.

Passenger Capacity

As mentioned, the Boeing 747 can seat upwards of 660 passengers, while the Boeing 737 can seat approximately 150. This difference in capacity is because the Boeing 747 is a widebody plane while the Boeing 737 is a narrowbody plane.

The wider body of the Boeing 747 allows it to accommodate more passengers than the narrower body of the Boeing 737.

How are the Boeing 747 and Boeing 737 similar?

The Boeing 747 and the Boeing 737 are two of the most popular jetliners in the world. 

Both planes are highly automated, with fly-by-wire systems that help to reduce pilot workload. They also use two engines designed with the same wing shape, giving them similar performance capabilities.

Overall, the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 737 are two of the most famous aircraft in the world, with similar performance capabilities and passenger capacities.

What’s better about the Boeing 747?

Here are some things that make the 747 an excellent choice for air travel:

  • It can carry a lot of passengers. The Boeing 747 seats 660 passengers, making it ideal for large groups or families.
  • It has a large cargo capacity and can carry up to 100 tons of cargo, making it perfect for shipping freight or large items.
  • It is fuel efficient and uses less fuel than other aircraft types, making it more environmentally friendly.
  • It has a long range and can fly up to 8,000 miles without stopping, making it perfect for long-distance travel.
  • It is comfortable and has wider seats and more legroom than other aircraft types, making it more comfortable for passengers.

What’s better about the Boeing 737?

The Boeing 737 is better in several ways.

  • First, the Boeing 737 has a longer range. This means that you can fly further without having to stop to refuel.
  • Second, the Boeing 737 is more fuel efficient. This means you’ll save money on fuel costs over the life of the aircraft.
  • Third, the Boeing 737 is more comfortable for passengers. The seats are wider, and there is more legroom in the cabin.
  • Finally, the Boeing 737 is quieter. This means that passengers will have a more enjoyable flight experience.

Conclusion

In the battle of big jets, it’s hard to beat the mighty Boeing 747. But if you’re looking for something more fuel-efficient with lower operating costs, then the Boeing 737 is your best bet.